Martin County residents gather on Earth Day 1970 for a cause that river advocates are still battling today.

Hundreds of people visit Phipps Park at the St. Lucie Canal floodgates on Earth Day 1970 to watch students hold a mock funeral for the polluted St. Lucie River. Larry Crary is seen dropping his outboard motor into the coffin. This photo ran with a story in The Stuart News on Sunday, April 26, 1970.

Staff file photo

Front page of The Stuart News on April 26, 1970. Three major waterway stories made the front page.

FILE PHOTO

Editor's note: A delay in the Central Everglades Planning Project, a key project that would reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges into the Indian River Lagoon, has spurred Treasure Coast water advocates to organize a funeral for the lagoon on May 3. More than 3,000 people have been invited to the Facebook event designed to let state and federal officials know that a fix is necessary and there isn't time to waste.